Wooden card for business and other purposes



(Specimens.)

R. B. HOUGI-I. WOODEN 4OAED EOE BUSINESS AND OTEEEV EUEPOSES.

NO. 335,703. Patented Feb. 9, 188,6.

N. PETERS. Phem-Lixnoghpner. wasningfon. D. c.

NITED STATES PATENTV Orrin-E.

ROMEYN BECK HOUGH, OF LOVVILLE, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettera Patent No. 335,703, dated February 9, 1886.

Application filed September 27, 1884. Serial No. 144,105. (Specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROMEYN B. HoUGH, a citizens of the United States, residing at Lowville, in the county of Lewis and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cards for Business and other Purposes Made of Wood Cut Across theGrain, and Method of Making the Same; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to cards made of wood.

The object of my invention is to provide flexible wooden cards suitable, for use as business or fancy cards, or cards for use in photography, the arts, Src., the same being cut either obliquely or transversely across the grain of natural wood.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a block of wood from which the cards are cut. Fig. 2 represents a card cut transversely across the grain of the wood or in the direction indicated by the line :um of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a like view of a card cut obliquely across the grain of the wood or in the direction indicated by the line 3/ y in Fig. 1.

The wood from which the cards are cut should be unseasoned and used as soon as possible after the tree is cut. It should be rst worked into blocks of the size desired.

The knife used in cutting the sections or cards is made of a heavy plate of steel having its cuttingedge in a line diagonal to the length of the blade.

The block from which it is proposed to cnt the cards should be securely held in position by means of clamps, and is caused to move beneath the knife, which has a vertical motion communicated to it by means of the ordinary Wheel and pitman. The knife should be sufficiently heavy and securely adjusted to prevent vibration.

Vhen it is desired to cut the cards transversely across the grain of thewood, the block is secured in a horizontal. position when brought in contact with the knife. After each upward movement of the knife the block is moved forward a sufficient distan ce to cause the knife in its succeeding downward movement to cut from the block a section or card of the thickness desired.

Sections may be cut at any desired angle across the grain of the wood by varying the position of the block and causing the same to pass beneath the knife Vat the angle desired. After cutting, the cards should at once be placed between heavy sheets of blotting-paper or other substance adapted to absorb the moisture, and should be allowed to dry under pressure for several hours, care being taken not to permit them to remain too long in the press.

When the term card is used, Ido not desire to confine myself to any size or thickness of wood cut across the grain, the liexibilty of the article with the cross-grain of the same being the object sought.

NVhen properly prepared in the manner described, the cards will be both durable and flexible. Being cut across the grain of the wood, the annular rings of growth and the structure of the wood are shown to advantage. The surface of the card will be smooth and suited to receive the impression of type, or they may be used for writing, artistic drawing, painting, or other uses to which cards heretofore manufactured are adapted.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a tiexible card composed of wood having its impression-receiving face formed of the crossgrain of the wood, substantially as described.

2. A card composed of a flexible crossscction of wood having a smooth and hardened face capable of receiving clearly-defined lines imparted to it by pen or type, and permitting the transmission of rays of light, substantially as described. l

3. The process described of forming flexible wooden cards, the same consisting in cutting the card from the block while the same is in a green state and across the grain of the latter, and subsequently placing the cut cards between absorbent material and subjecting them to pressure, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROMEYN BECK HOUGH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE GoRDINInR, WARREN L. Sco'rr, 

